Mail-marking machine.



T. G. STODDARD. MAIL MARKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1909.

Patented Feb. 24, 19M

il HI Willem,

MBIA PLANOGR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS Gr. STODDARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN POSTAL MACHINES COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MAIL-MARKING MACHINE.

insane.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 9, 1909.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914. Serial No. 511,885.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, THO-MAS G. STODDARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mail-Marking Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My present invention relates to mail marking machines of the general type illustrated in the patent to Stoddard and Barbour No. 891,195, dated June 16, 1908. In that machine there is shown a feed wheel cooperating with a marking roll carrying a clamping foot H and printing dies, and with various timing devices by means of which the letter is presented to the printing devices at the proper time. In the machine shown in. the aforesaid patent the feedwheel is provided with a relatively station ary rubber projection called the feeding-pad which engages frictionally the back of the letter, and a similar projection of leather, called the pressure-pad, which cooperates with the clamping-foot to feed the letter. In a subsequent application filed by me, there is shown a friction wheel which takes the place of the said pads and enables the machine to operate with greater success on mail, the pieces of which vary in thickness. As actually constructed for practical use, the friction wheels were composed of a circular metal center surrounded by a soft rubber rim which furnished the frictional surface which engaged the letter. It has been found in the rapid operation of the machine employing the feed-wheel thus constructed, that there was a tendency for the soft rubber rim to slip on the metal center. As the value of the friction wheel depends wholly on nicety of adjustment so that it will turn before the pressure exerted by the letter on the time stops is so great as to force the stops or to do injury to the letter, it will be seen that any slipping of the rim of the friction-wheel on the center will completely destroy the utility of the friction wheel.

My present invention consists in a friction wheel of novel construction such that the rim while still being made of soft rubber, affording the desired frictional grip on the mail matter, cannot be turned independently of the metal center.

The invention will be fully understood an elevation showing the location of the friction wheel. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows the friction-Wheel re moved from the feed-wheel. Fig. 5 is a section of the friction wheel on line 55 Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown at A the feed-wheel, at B the marking-roll; at C the clamping foot; at D one of the timing stops; and at E the arm which cooperates with the timing stop D and at 13 the friction wheel. These parts are, with the exception of the friction wheel 13 in general constructed in the manner described in the patent and application for patent hereinbefore referred to. The feedwheel Ahas a polished peripheral surface and a slot is milled out of its rim for the reception of the friction-wheel 13. The friction wheel 13 is supported on a stud or axle 14 having at one end a screw threaded abutment 151. On the stud 14 and forming a center for the friction wheel is located a hexagonal or other non-circular center 15 which is in the form of an ordinary nut. Said center 15 is free to rotate on the stud 14. The friction wheel 13 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) is composed of rubber and has a rim a, of soft flexible rubber which is adapted to grip the letter strongly and to produce a maximum amount of friction on the surface of the letter. Between the soft rubber piece a and the metal center 15 is a body Z) composed of hard rubber having therein an opening corresponding in size and form to that of the metal center 15. Said rim of soft rubber and said body of hard rubber are formed integral with each other. A spiral spring 16 about the axle or stud 14 is compressed against the surface of the metal center 15 by the screw-threaded abutment 151 so that an adjustable pressure may be applied to the metal center 15 which will prevent the wheel from turning under ordinary circumstances, but will permit it to turn when the friction on the circumference of the friction-wheel is greater than a predetermined amount.

'11; will be seen that by constructing the friction wheel in the manner just described with a soft rubber rim and an integral hard rubber center a firm grip on the letter is insured, but it is not possible for the rubber rim to turn or slip on the body of hard rub-' her since the two are integral, neither can the hard rubber portion turn on the metal center because of the non-circular shape of the metal center and of the corresponding hole in the hard rubber. This construction is a matter of great importance because of the great difliculty experienced when the friction-wheel was constructed with a soft rubber rim on a metal center since the soft rubber rim would not infrequently turn or slip on the metal center and completely upset the operation of the machine, especially when the machine was run at high speed.

hat I claim is:

1. In a mail-marking machine the combination with feeding mechanism and a printing roll, of a fricti0n-wheel mounted in the feeding mechanism, said frictionnation with a feed-wheel and a printing roll, of a friction wheel, a stud in the rim of said feed wheel upon which said friction wheel is rotatably mounted and means for retarding the rotation of said friction wheel, said friction wheel being composed of a non-circular metal center, and having a soft rubber rim and a hard rubber body integral with said rim, said body having a hole therein corresponding in shape to the shape of said non-circular metal center.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS G. STODDARD. "Witnesses GEORGE P. DIKE, ALICE H. MORRISON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

